Notable: The Gators are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since winning back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007. Only two players, senior Dan Werner and Georgetown transfer Vernon Macklin, have ever played in the tourney. … Macklin, who has been the Gators' starting center all season, said it's imperative that the frontcourt plays well in order to help the backcourt players who will be defending one of the best shooting guards in the country in Jimmer Fredette. … Macklin has tried to prepare his young teammates for what's to come. "I told them, the tournament is really about runs," Macklin said. "Against North Carolina (in 2007), we (Georgetown) were down about 10 with two minutes to go and ended up winning the game. It's about runs. And the craziest thing about it is you know if you lose, it's the end of the year."